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Kingbaby to rock Dalhart

Posted by: tdt -

By Robin Scott

Back by popular demand is Kingbaby, with lead vocalist and guitarist Lance Bulen. Kingbaby will perform at Rita Blana Coliseum on Friday, July 17th at 9:00 p.m. The group will arrive in Dalhart in time for a live interview on KXIT Radio on Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Bulen is a native Louisianan with a background in rock, country and especially southern blues. Recent Kingbaby albums include “Whole Lotta Easy” and “Find My Way,” which Bulen states is some of his best work to date. He’s called the brainchild of Kingbaby and has a long history of making music with very talented artists.

Bulen has recorded with the band Baton Rouge, which had a top 200 hit in the 90’s, and also with Puzzle Gut. He’s worked with several producers including Mike Clink, Thom Panunzio, Jack Ponti, and Robert Tepper. Bulen has written numerous songs and co-wrote “Snakebite” with Alice Cooper, and sang backup vocals on Cooper’s “Hey Stooped” LP. He has toured with many well-known artists including Iggy Pop, Linda Perry, The Bloodhound Gang, Sevendust, Tonic and Reverend Horton Heat and he has opened for Henry Rollins, Billy Idol, Beck, Joe Perry, Moby, Republica, The Nixons, Matchbox 20, Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers).

Kingbaby drummer, Jamie O’Keefe, was born in Ireland in 1979. He moved to the UK when he was just 17 where he played and recorded with Suzy’s Field, JJ Gilmour, Aussie Roots player Derrin Neaundort, The OK’s and Killian. In 2007 O’Keefe appeared in the Warner Brothers picture “August Rush,” as “Steve” that starred Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell and Robin Williams. The film received an Academy Award for best achievement in music written for motion pictures, original song, for the song, “Raise it Up.” O’Keefe resides in Los Angeles, where he met Bulen.

Kingbaby bassist, Frank Fredella, also a native Louisianan, has made music with Bulen for years. He’s new to the group, after having also moved out to CA. The three get along very well, and Bulen states, “We are new as a group together and it’s a learning experience, but we get along and we are having a good time.” The band’s MySpace page has more than 7,000 followers and nearly 53,000 views. The band’s new CD, “Find My Way” is a compilation of several types of music, including Bulen singing lead vocals on the track “You” accompanied by piano and strings only. Another popular track on the CD is “Stompin’.”

Bulen stated Tuesday, “What I’ve learned over the years is that it’s not about the full record because of downloads, so my music is a conglomeration of sounds and people seem to enjoy us at all ages. The little kids love us, and then the older people love us too and they’ll get up and dance.” Bulen’s love for music has kept him focused. He noted that nothing ever got in the way of his music, a valuable asset in a difficult industry.

Kingbaby and Baton Rouge just performed together in a reunion show, which Bulen commented was a great experience. The group left Okalahoma on Tuesday to head to Dalhart after they performed on the Retro Stage Sunday night in “Rocklahoma” on their way to Dalhart.

Visit www.kingbabymusic.com and www.myspace.com/kingbaby for more information on the band, musicians and upcoming tour dates.